Paper Bag Market in the U.S. - Key Insights

IndexBox has just published a new report, the U.S. Paper Bag And Coated And Treated Paper Market. Analysis And Forecast to 2025. Here is a summary of the report's key findings.

The revenue of the paper bag market in the U.S. amounted to $20.1B in 2018, remaining relatively unchanged against the previous year. This figure reflects the total revenues of producers and importers (excluding logistics costs, retail marketing costs, and retailers' margins, which will be included in the final consumer price). Over the last decade, paper bag consumption, however, continues to indicate a relatively flat trend pattern. The pace of growth appeared the most rapid in 2015, when it surged by 2.6% y-o-y. In that year, the paper bag market attained its peak level of $20.8B. From 2016 to 2018, the growth of the paper bag market failed to regain its momentum.

Paper Bag Production in the U.S.

In value terms, paper bag production stood at $20.4B in 2018.

Exports from the U.S.

In 2018, exports of paper bag and coated and treated paper from the U.S. totaled 743K tonnes, standing approx. at the previous year. Over the last decade, paper bag exports continue to indicate a slight descent.

In value terms, paper bag exports stood at $2B (IndexBox estimates) in 2018.

Exports by Country

Japan (142K tonnes) was the main destination for paper bag exports from the U.S., accounting for a 19% share of total exports. Moreover, paper bag exports to Japan exceeded the volume sent to the second major destination, South Korea (71K tonnes), twofold. China (63K tonnes) ranked third in terms of total exports with a 8.4% share.

From 2013 to 2018, the average annual growth rate of volume to Japan stood at -1.8%. Exports to the other major destinations recorded the following average annual rates of exports growth: South Korea (+0.5% per year) and China (+1.9% per year).

In value terms, the largest markets for paper bag exported from the U.S. were China ($263M), Japan ($231M) and South Korea ($135M), together accounting for 31% of total exports. These countries were followed by the UK, Germany, Taiwan, Chinese, Australia, Brazil, Italy, Colombia, Saudi Arabia and Morocco, which together accounted for a further 29%.

Export Prices by Country

In 2018, the average paper bag export price amounted to $2.7 per kg, flattening at the previous year. Over the last five year period, it increased at an average annual rate of +1.1%.

Export prices varied noticeably by the country of destination; the country with the highest export price was Germany ($4,636 per tonne), while the average price for exports to Morocco ($1,151 per tonne) was amongst the lowest.

From 2013 to 2018, the most notable rate of growth in terms of export prices was recorded for supplies to Germany, while the export prices for the other major destinations experienced more modest paces of growth.

Imports into the U.S.

In 2018, approx. 648K tonnes of paper bag and coated and treated paper were imported into the U.S.; picking up by 5.6% against the previous year. The total import volume increased at an average annual rate of +4.3% from 2013 to 2018; the trend pattern remained consistent, with somewhat noticeable fluctuations in certain years.

In value terms, paper bag imports stood at $2.2B (IndexBox estimates) in 2018.

Imports by Country

In 2018, China (286K tonnes) constituted the largest supplier of paper bag to the U.S., accounting for a 44% share of total imports. Moreover, paper bag imports from China exceeded the figures recorded by the second largest supplier, Germany (77K tonnes), fourfold. The third position in this ranking was occupied by Japan (58K tonnes), with a 8.9% share.

From 2013 to 2018, the average annual rate of growth in terms of volume from China totaled +5.7%. The remaining supplying countries recorded the following average annual rates of imports growth: Germany (+10.0% per year) and Japan (-4.9% per year).

In value terms, China ($938M) constituted the largest supplier of paper bag to the U.S., comprising 43% of total paper bag imports. The second position in the ranking was occupied by Germany ($287M), with a 13% share of total imports. It was followed by Japan, with a 11% share.

Import Prices by Country

In 2018, the average paper bag import price amounted to $3.4 per kg, jumping by 2.6% against the previous year. Over the period under review, the paper bag import price, however, continues to indicate a relatively flat trend pattern.

There were significant differences in the average import prices amongst the major supplying countries. In 2018, the country with the highest import price was South Korea ($5,382 per tonne), while the price for Brazil ($1,931 per tonne) was amongst the lowest.

From 2013 to 2018, the most notable rate of growth in terms of import prices was attained by South Korea, while the import prices for the other major suppliers experienced more modest paces of growth.

Companies Mentioned in the Report

Avery Dennison Corporation, Sealed Air Corporation, Printpack, Bemis Company, Boise, Tetra Pak, Duro Hilex Poly, Packaging Dynamics Corporation, Shurtape Technologies, Alpha Industries Management, Mohawk Fine Papers, Prolamina Corporation, Nitto Americas, Printpack Holdings, Curwood, Westlake Polymers, Coveris Flexibles US, Stm Industries, Coveris Key Holdings, Printpack Enterprises, Paperweight Development Corp., Newpage Group, Jonah Brooklyn, Atlas Agi Holdings

Source: IndexBox AI Platform